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New Business Group Forms to Promote Obama Agenda

By John Harwood May 20, 2009 5:48 pmMay 20, 2009 5:48 pm

Business executives aligned with President Obama have formed a new coalition to support his agenda as Congress moves ahead with legislation on energy, health care, financial regulation and other hot-button issues.

The coalition, calling itself Business Forward, plans to announce its formation on Thursday. Organizers said the group, whose initial members include AT&T, Facebook, Hilton, IBM, Microsoft, Pfizer and Time Warner, will engage in public advocacy but will not lobby administration officials or members of Congress.

“When it comes to health care, education, and other critical issues, business leaders are among America’s strongest advocates for reform,” said Jim Doyle, the new organization’s executive director. “They can make the case for taking a long-term view in a way that few others can.”

The Obama administration has already conducted extensive outreach to business groups, with mixed results. The health insurance industry, for example, has expressed willingness to negotiate on a plan to overhaul the health care system, in contrast to its full-throated opposition to President Bill Clinton’s health care initiative during the early 1990s.

Auto companies — with limited freedom to maneuver considering their reliance on federal bailout aid — joined environmentalists alongside Mr. Obama as he announced higher fuel efficiency requirements this week.

At the same time, firms benefitting from tax breaks for offshore income have complained about the administration’s plan to curb those breaks. And the president’s plans for increasing regulation of the financial industry are certain to spark opposition from some affected companies.

But the coalition, which plans recruit small businesses as members, too, aims to provide more consistent support for the priorities of the president and the Democratic Congress. Valerie Jarrett, a top presidential aide who has met with founders of the group, welcomed the formation of a business organization “interested in supporting public service” on issues from energy to education.

“Any involvement by the business community in the political process is welcome,” said Bruce Josten, an executive at the United States Chamber of Commerce, which supported the Obama administration’s push for economic stimulus legislation earlier this year. “We’ve long worked in coordination with our allies towards common causes.”

Meanwhile, out in the woods, the baying sound we hear is today’s GOP–busying themselves with the self-appointed task of renaming the Democrats (yeah–now that’s burning issue), making sure gun owners can shoot at Yogi the Bear and trying to convince Americans that–while the GOP is second to none in their love of country–they are certain that our justice system is weak, flawed and completely incapable of dealing with terrorists and our prisons are incapable of keeping anyone in incarcerated.

Great. The thing we really need to reform our health care system is the input and influence of the health insurance industry. These are people who would gladly force someone into bankruptcy or watch them die if they could save an extra dollar. Why are they even at the table?

The GOP has made some gains in framing security issues of late and conservative Dems are only too willing to go along for the ride. I strongly urge some strong Democratic voices to seize the initiative back. That obviously includes the President. The people can be led like lambs to the slaughter by posturing demagogues or they can be led to an understanding of what is in the interests of this nation by a pragmatic, forceful leader. The ball is in their court.

Too much timid, Democrats. Not enough leadership.
Too much Blue Dog. Not enough Progressive.
The grassroots party activists are watching.

It’s about time that business leaders who profit from America’s leadership in science, business, education, innovation and security finally step up to the plate and support policies that will benefit the country in the long run. I am glad to see business leadership finally doing something useful on key issues such as environment, education, etc. Business leaders are always complaining about the poor levels of math and science, poor quality of workers, etc., ….now at least, the Obama administration is trying to do something about it. Business should support the administration. An educated citizenry is good for business and America’s competitive advantage in this global economy. It is vital and patriotic that business take a long-term view of this and encourage politicians and investors to do likewise. While we are at it, it is important for this group to encourage other businesses to pay their fair share of taxes. Off shore tax shelters are unpatriotic. Businesses must advocate for companies to pay their fair share of taxes like the middle class. They should support the Obama tax reforms. We all need to be thinking long-term and pay the cost of long-term prospertity by investing in energy, education and healthcare. Finally, change is coming to some businesses. It is about time. It’s called corporate social responsibility.

Seems to me there’s hole in their logic on Gitmo big enough to drive a busload of detainees through–specifically–the idea that the place was chosen because it’s super-secure–an impenetrable fortress that keeps the detainees locked up, safely removed from the U.S.

The truth is GITMO was not some fortress bristling with defenses and weapons prior to 9/11–a case of America’s military might standing strong against hostile Cuban forces trying to push us off the island.

We were using a piece of paper to hold onto the base–a 99-year lease to be precise. We still are.

And from what I’ve read, we still counting on that–and the base is still not uber-fortified against outside attack.

Sure–we’ve paid to build a state-of-the-art super max prison there–but that’s to keep the detainees in. And there are plenty of super-max prison facilities inside the U.S.

The reason why Team Bush sent them to Gitmo had nothing to do with the safety and security of the facility. And everything to do with their belief that they could run a house of extra-legal horrors down there–unfettered by the U.S. Constitution.

What they had in mind was a Club Waterboard.

That said–I have to say you’re spot on with your last paragraph.

Harry Reid could have said what I just did–even more forcefully. He could have set fire to the Republicans’ straw man about terrorists being released to walk on the streets of America–by pointing out the obvious truth–NOBODY on the planet is suggesting that be done.

And the Blue Dogs–left to their own instincts–I suspect would more often than not, be voting with the Republicans.

Fitting that they chose to identify themselves as Dogs–inclined to align with the antediluvian policies of the GOP–we can give them the same name as Fred Flintstone’s dog:

The public health insurance option is an important part of President Obama’s health insurance reform. But the health insurance lobby is distorting it for their own means. They don’t want the public option because it would force them to lower their rates to compete.

The public option means choice. If you are happy with your current health insurance, you can keep it. If not, or you have no insurance, you can choose a Medicare-like plan.

The public plan will allow you to choose your doctors.

The public health insurance option will be not for profit. No CEO bonuses or shareholder dividends. Private plans will have to lower their rates to compete.

The public option will always be there. No one will be excluded for preexisting conditions.

The public option will cover the uninsured. Government subsidies will be available to the poor. Currently, your health insurance costs include the cost of treating the uninsured in emergency rooms for nonemergencies like ear infections.

The public health insurance option is a win-win for everyone. I urge you to tell your senators and representatives that you support it.

President Obama is getting the job done and going against the grain in the process. He fighting the lobbyist and the Republican Party. That is a big accomplishment. The light bulb finally went on in the business world. Duh I think something is wrong. The Republican way is not working. Maybe this Obama guy got the right idea. Help the employees and improve the business instead of screw the employees and steal their money. I like “no jive” Obama. Right On!

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